Bob and Barbara Gilmore operate 1899 Wright Inn in Montford, one of 17 area inns offering free one-night stays to veterans Nov. 11. Bob, a former Marine pilot, earned three purple hearts for his service.

Written by

John Boyle

You've probably heard the stories about returning Vietnam veterans being spit on in American airports after serving their country overseas.

Bob Gilmore lived it.

"Coming back, you land in San Francisco, and in the San Francisco airport I was spit on by some of the local hippie contingent," said Gilmore, a F-4 Phantom fighter pilot who served three tours in Vietnam. "It didn't take me long before I signed the paperwork to head back over. My feeling at the time was, 'If that's how we're going to be welcomed back to this country, I don't want any part of this place.' " ...